"They are basically sprinkled throughout the base. There is really no part of the base that doesn't have civilian employees," said Cochrane.

At this time, no directive has been given that would result in impacted employees being losing one day of pay a week.

"They will be getting a 20 percent pay cut," said the commanding officer, who noted March 21 is the day to watch because that would be the earliest furloughs could be ordered. The process also involves a 30-day notice, meaning if furloughs materialize, they would not happen until late April.

Companies that serve the Navy like Sun Coast Environmental are concerned that sequestration will change the landscape for them.

"Never had the worries that I have now," said company president Bart Snow, who said his staff of four has two weeks of left work on decommissioning two ships and nothing after that.

The Atlantic Beach defense contractor, according to Snow, has had steady work steady for the better part of 13 years at NS Mayport.

When asked if the Navy base can handle furloughs if they materialize, Captain Cochrane was optimistic saying, "Should we go into sequestration we will come through this stronger."